Birds

Whether you’re a keen twitcher or simply interested in spotting nature up close, Aston’s Eyot is a great place to see a wide range of birds.

There are lots of feathered friends lurking around the eyot. If you are new to birdwatching and want to improve your skills at recognising birds and their songs, you can download our guidance sheet (PDF, 237KB) to help you. Below, you’ll see a long list of confirmed species that have been spotted on the eyot. If you’d like to contribute to our observations, then please email us at info@friendsofastonseyot.org.

Aston’s Eyot bird list

Most species listed here have been confirmed in 2010-25. Several that probably turn up reasonably regularly, but for which we don’t have a recent record, are indicated. Some others that were recorded in the 1970s & 1980s, but not recently, are indicated as ‘occurred in the past’. For fuller details see the dated lists available as a download.

Font code: Bold – species seen since 2010; Bold Italic – species not seen since 2010; Normal – species seen nearby, but not in the Aston’s Eyot ‘zone’ (e.g. Christ Church Meadow, Long Bridges and other areas on the opposite Thames bank, Iffley Meadows/Oriel Field, East Oxford housing up to Cowley Rd)

• Great Crested Grebe  –  Resident in general area, single birds seen some years only in winter at Aston’s Eyot on the Thames or Cherwell
• Dabchick/Little Grebe  –  Resident in general area, very infrequent in winter at Aston’s Eyot on the Cherwell; not seen since 2011
• Cormorant  –  Resident, seen regularly, most often in winter, along the Thames & Cherwell, and flying over
• Grey Heron  –  Resident in general area, seen regularly, usually singly
• Great White Egret –  increasingly frequent in Oxfordshire; one flew over in March 2025
• Little Egret – Resident; very occasional flying over; once only feeding on Long Meadow
• Greylag Goose (feral)  –  Common resident, breeds locally
• Snow Goose – a feral flock visits the Oxford area in winter; a single bird flew over in June 2024
• Canada Goose   –  Common resident, sometimes breeds on Boathouse Island or Swan Island (Kidneys)
• Barnacle Goose – there is a large local feral flock; one seen overhead in October 2024
• Egyptian Goose – increasingly common in the Oxford area; one seen in October 2024.
• Mallard  –  Common resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Pintail – One record; male flushed from Laurie’s Pond on 8 January 2021
• Teal   –  Winter visitor in very small numbers, usually on the winter pond on Long Meadow
• Wigeon  –  probably occurs sometimes, no recent records
• Shoveler  –  A pair on Long Meadow in March-April 2013 and March 2016 are the only records
• Pochard  –  probably occurs sometimes, no recent records
• Tufted Duck  –  Infrequent winter visitor on Thames (when local lakes frozen)
• Scaup – A female on the Thames December 2010 – January 2011 is the only record
• Goosander  –  Occasional winter visitor in very small numbers on Cherwell, absent some years; visits usually very brief in the early morning before human disturbance
• Mute Swan  –  Resident, sometimes breeds on Aston’s Eyot/Swan Island
• Osprey  –  One old record in the 1980s was the only sighting until one flew over in April 2014 & 2024.  
• Red Kite  –  Common resident in general area since c2000, often seen overhead singly or pairs
• Sparrowhawk  –  Resident; a pair regularly nested on Aston’s Eyot in the 2010s, less frequent recently
• Buzzard   –  Resident in general area, often seen flying over or perched in trees
• Peregrine Falcon – Scarce winter visitor; two flew over in February 2019, one in October 2024 & December 2025; birds sometimes hang out around Magdalen College tower.
• Hobby  –  Summer visitor, one or two sightings every couple of years 
• Merlin – Winter visitor; 1 record, March 2018
• Kestrel   –  Resident, breeds locally, regularly seen usually in winter, less frequent since 2020
• Grey Partridge  –  One old record (1980s)
• Pheasant  –  Resident in general area, mostly seen in summer; bred on Aston’s Eyot in 2012, but chicks probably suffer from predation by foxes in most years
• Water Rail  –  Winter visitor to the ditches, single birds only; seen most years up to 2019, also December 2022
• Moorhen   –  Resident, 1-2 pairs nest on Aston’s Eyot
• Coot  –  Resident, used to breed sometimes on Long Meadow, very scarce after 2015; 1 in August 2024
• Oystercatcher – Summer visitor; small numbers breed locally, occasional fly-bys since 2023
• Lapwing  –  Very occasionally seen flying over (one record in 2012; more frequent in the 1980s)
• Redshank  –  Probably occurs sometimes, no recent records
• Common Sandpiper  –  Very occasional on Thames bank or the ditch, passage migrant
• Common Snipe  –  Winter visitor. Used to frequent Long Meadow; 2 overhead in February 2015, seen in the ditch in January 2023, Jan-March 2024; regular on Iffley Meadows when partly flooded in winter
• Jack Snipe – Occasional in winter on Iffley Meadows, not yet recorded on Aston’s Eyot/Long Meadow
• Woodcock  –  Rare winter visitor (more frequent in 1980s); 1 Fairacres Rd (!) in November 2019. Camera trapping has revealed it is probably regular (‘trapped’ annually since 2023), but keeps hidden by day so isn’t seen by birdwatchers. Occasional on Iffley Meadows;
• Blackheaded Gull  –  Common resident in general area, present all year along river
• Greater Black-backed Gull– Only recorded in 2002, but probably flies over with other gulls
• Lesser Black-backed Gull   –  Resident, breeds locally; seen over Aston’s Eyot all year round
• Herring Gull   –  A pair took up a unusual winter feeding territory on Isis school playing field over 5 winters 2012-3 to 2016-7, after which the male disappeared, though by autumn the female seemed to have acquired a new friend; formerly occasional, increasingly regular.
• Common Gull  –  Winter visitor, uncommon in Oxfordshire; rarely recorded, but may be overlooked flying over
• Common Tern  –  Summer visitor occasionally seen along Thames, non-breeder
• Woodpigeon  –  Common resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Stock Dove  –  Resident, probably breeds on Aston’s Eyot and Boathouse Island
• Feral Pigeon  –  Resident, breeds locally; usually seen flying over, and on the Kidneys after mowing.
• Turtle Dove  –  Occurred in the past before national decline, no recent records
• Collared Dove  –  Resident, breeds in local gardens, occasionally also on Aston’s Eyot/Kidneys
• Ring-necked Parakeet – Resident; reached Oxford mid-2010s, first seen Aston’s Eyot January 2019, regular in ones and twos over Iffley Fields gardens by 2020. Several birds sometimes roost in a redwood tree on Iffley Rd in winter. 
• Tawny Owl  –  Resident, a pair has bred on Aston’s Eyot
• Short-eared Owl– Exceptional; one seen flying over Aston Street, autumn 2011
• Barn Owl– One seen Iffley Meadows/Oriel Field in April 2013 & March 2025; not yet recorded on Aston’s Eyot
• Cuckoo  –  Regular summer visitor in the past, now usually just heard briefly on spring passage; seen prospecting in 2011
• Swift  –  Summer visitor, breeds locally; often seen overhead
• Kingfisher  –  Resident, breeds locally; usually seen singly along the Shire Lake Ditch or the Cherwell
• Green Woodpecker  –  Resident, a pair regularly around Aston’s Eyot, probably nesting nearby
• Greater Spotted Woodpecker  –  Resident, 1 or 2 pairs nest on Aston’s Eyot
• Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  –  Occurred in the past, no recent records
• Skylark  –  Occasionally recorded flying over
• Swallow  –  Summer visitor, breeds locally (under bypass bridge beyond Iffley & at Donnington Weirs), but now rarely seen at Aston’s Eyot
• House Martin  –  Summer visitor (one or two pairs still bred in East Oxford in 2019, but gone by 2021)
• Sand Martin  –  Summer visitor, occasional passage birds along river corridor
• Meadow Pipit  –  Infrequent autumn & winter visitor; seen 2009; recent autumn reports on eBird (2023-5) not confirmed by FoAE observers; more frequent on Iffley Meadows
• Grey Wagtail  –  Resident, sometimes breeds locally; formerly infrequent in winter on Aston’s Eyot , but now regular, and also seen in summer, though less often
• Pied Wagtail  –  Resident in Oxfordshire, but locally a winter visitor; feeds along streets, and at the ‘goose plaza’ by Donnington Bridge
• Great Grey Shrike  –  Two records: one in 1976, and one reported nearby on Iffley Meadows in October 2011
• Waxwing – Occasional winter visitor; only two records on Aston’s Eyot (January 2011, March 2013) but seen in gardens in Meadow Lane & Iffley Rd area in winter 2008-9 and December 2010-March 2011 and similarly 2012-13; none since.
• Wren  –  Common resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Dunnock  –  Common resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Cetti’s Warbler – Resident locally; not yet recorded on the Eyot, but heard (it is rarely actually seen) across the Thames and below Iffley Lock
• Grasshopper Warbler  –  Occurred in the past, no recent records; better habitat across river at Long Bridges & Iffley Meadows
• Sedge Warbler  –  Summer visitor, breeds Iffley Meadows; no recent sightings on on Aston’s Eyot
• Reed Warbler – One singing by the river in July 2013, July 2014 & May 2024 are the only records; sometimes breeds on Iffley Meadows
• Blackcap  –  Common summer visitor, breeds on Aston’s Eyot; Winter visitor in nearby gardens
• Garden Warbler  –  Summer visitor, 1-2 pairs generally breed on Aston’s Eyot; inconspicuous
• Whitethroat  –  Summer visitor, up to 3 pairs used to breed on Aston’s Eyot/Kidneys, but recently sporadic
• Lesser Whitethroat  –  Sporadic summer visitor; one sang all summer in 2015, and odd ones seen in 2023-4; more frequent in the past
• Willow Warbler  –  Summer visitor & passage migrant, no longer breeds regularly
• Chiffchaff  –  Common summer visitor, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Yellow-browed Warbler – Increasing as autumn migrant and winter visitor inland; one spent January 2023 in a hedge just over Donnington Bridge, also one in a Hurst St. garden in autumn 2024.
• Goldcrest  –  Resident & winter visitor, scarce local breeder; inconspicuous; nested in Jackdaw Lane in 2020, may nest on Aston’s Eyot. High-pitched song inaudible to older people.
• Firecrest – Resident, increasing in Oxfordshire; only one record on Aston’s Eyot, January 2023
• Spotted Flycatcher  –  Previously a common summer visitor, but due to national decline now only seen sporadically on autumn passage, as in 2013, 2018, 2021 & 2025.
• Robin  –  Common resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Redstart – Passage migrant; one record only, in August 2025
• Black Redstart – Winter visitor; this species has taken a fancy to the Christ Church buildings facing the Meadow, and a bird had spent the winter there in several recent years: 2018-9, 2024-5, 2025-6) 
• Wheatear –  Passage migrant; one sighting only – Oriel Field, 28 March 2011 
• Fieldfare  –  Winter visitor, most often in severe weather, not seen every year
• Blackbird  –  Common resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Redwing  –  Common winter visitor; sometimes a large overnight roost
• Songthrush  –  Resident, a few pairs nest on Aston’s Eyot
• Mistle Thrush  –  Resident, infrequently seen; formerly much more common, but a pair bred in 2021; recent regular reports on eBird not confirmed by FoAE observers
• Long-tailed Tit  –  Resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Marsh Tit  –  Occurred in the past; three recent records: November 2012, several times in 2020, and March 2022.
• Willow Tit  –  Occurred in the past before national decline, one recent record: December 2017
• Coal Tit  –  Winter visitor to nearby gardens, infrequent on Aston’s Eyot; scarce resident breeder in East Oxford; reports throughout the year on eBird not confirmed by FoAE observers
• Bluetit  –  Common resident, breeds in nestboxes on Aston’s Eyot
• Great Tit  –  Common resident, breeds in nestboxes on Aston’s Eyot
• Nuthatch  –  Resident, birds wander in winter – first confirmed November 2019, then heard & seen throughout 2021, sporadic records since; possibly overlooked 
• Treecreeper  –  Resident, sometimes breeds on Aston’s Eyot
• Chaffinch  –  Resident & winter visitor, declining; formerly bred annually on Aston’s Eyot, but now irregular
• Brambling – Winter visitor; only two records: February 2018 & November 2025
• Greenfinch  –  Resident, bred on Aston’s Eyot before recent decline, now seen sporadically; reports throughout the year on eBird not confirmed by FoAE observers
• Siskin  –  Winter visitor most years in small flocks of up to 30+, feeds in alders
• Redpoll  –  Occasional winter visitor in small numbers often with Siskins, not seen every year
• Goldfinch  –  Resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot and nearby gardens
• Linnet  –  Resident & winter visitor; no recent records until October 2024 & July 2025.
• Bullfinch  –  Resident, occasionally breeds on Aston’s Eyot; recent records mostly in winter
• Corn Bunting  –  Occurred in the past, no recent records
• Yellowhammer  –  Occurred in the past, no recent records
• Reed Bunting  –  Occasional, especially in winter; breeds on Iffley Meadows; bred Kidneys 2012.
• House Sparrow  –  Resident, massive recent decline, rarely seen beyond local gardens; still breeds locally, increasing again somewhat since 2010
• Tree Sparrow  –  Occurred in the past, no recent records
• Starling  –  Resident & winter visitor; breeds locally; usually seen flying over and on local rooftops
• Jay  –  Resident, 1-2 pairs nest on Aston’s Eyot
• Magpie  –  Resident, breeds on Aston’s Eyot; formerly a large winter roost of up to 80 birds, though fewer since 2015
• Raven – Since 2011 seen a few times a year flying over; has increased generally, so more to be expected
• Jackdaw  –  Common resident, breeds locally; mostly seen flying over to feed on meadows across river
• Carrion Crow  –  Common resident, breeds on Aston’s EyotRook  – Local resident that probably occurs sometimes, but no records since 1988 [rather frequent reports on eBird not confirmed by FoAE observers]

(List last revised 27.2.2026 – Anthony Cheke)

(recording zone includes the Kidneys, Long Meadow and for water birds the riverfront down to Donnington Bridge; also Iffley Fields houses/gardens up to the Iffley Rd and from Bannister Close to Donnington Bridge Rd)

Bird sighting lists

Bird sightings 2025

Bird sightings 2024

Bird sightings 2017

Bird sightings 2016

Bird sightings 2015

Bird sightings 2014

Bird sightings 2013

Bird sightings 2012

Bird sightings 2011

Bird sightings 2010

Bird sightings 1973-2011